Patent Application
20080039007
The details of the present invention will be more readily understood from a detailed description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the following figures.
Referring to
Please refer to
As shown in
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Data processing module 12 is physically connected between UWB module 11 and bridge module 13 whose main function is transmitting the control instructions needed by each module, or performing related operations and processing for base station 10. As shown in
Bridge module 13 is connected to UWB module 11 through data processing module 12 for converting UWB signals to electrical signals to match multiple interfaces supported by each peripheral device. Base station 10 is capable of supporting at least a first protocol and a second protocol with different functions and interfaces, and these protocols can be converted to USB signals through the bridge module 13. As shown in
USB signal adaptor 131 further comprises a USB device phy. 1311, a USB host core-ULPI 1312, a USB host OTG (On The Go) PHY-ULPI 1313, and a USB hub 1314. USB device phy. 1311 is connected to data processing module 12 and comprises memory for storing data therein. USB host core-ULPI 1312 is coupled to USB device phy. 1311 and processor 121 of data processing module 12 to control wireless USB signal transmission and reception. USB host OTG PHY-ULPI 1313 is connected to USB host core-ULPI 1312 whose main function is independently connecting and transmitting USB signals to operate USB peripheral devices. USB hub 1314 is coupled to the USB host OTG PHY-ULPI 1313, using a USB protocol to extend and connect more USB interfaces.
USB bridge module 132 is connected between USB hub 1314 and USB signal adaptor 131 whose main function is converting USB signals from USB signal adaptor 131 to corresponding electrical signals of various protocols and interfaces of each peripheral device. In the preferred embodiment, USB bridge module 132 can further comprise, but is not limited to: a USB audio streaming bridge controller 1321, a USB video streaming bridge controlling unit 1322, a USB serial bridge controller 1323, a USB compound card reader controlling unit 1324, a USB bridge Ethernet controlling unit 1325, a USB bridge IDE controller 1326, a USB parallel port bridge unit 1327, and a USB bridge 1394 controller 1328. The USB audio streaming bridge controller 1321 and USB video streaming bridge controller 1322 can proceed with conversion between USB protocol and video/audio protocol and can further use decoder 133 to speed up operation. USB serial bridge controller 1323, can convert between the USB and serial protocols, for example, a serial port. In addition, a modem module 414 can be further connected to USB serial bridge controller 1323 such that base station 10 of the present invention can choose the dial function of modem 414 to connect to the Internet or execute fax or telephone communication functions. USB compound card reader controller 1324 can convert between USB and memory card protocols, such as SD, CF, MMC, xD, etc. USB bridge Ethernet controller 1325 can convert between the USB and Ethernet protocols, for example TCP/IP. USB bridge IDE controller 1326 can convert between USB and IDE protocols and further connect to a physical hard disk 415 such that base station 10 of the present invention can additionally provide wireless UWB networked hard disk functions. Alternatively, video/audio data of multimedia format codes can be directly played by base station 10. USB parallel port bridge unit 1327 can convert between USB and parallel protocols, such as the parallel port, while USB bridge 1394 controller unit 1328 can convert between USB and 1394 protocols.
An interface port 134 is connected to USB bridge module 132 (or decoder 133), providing various protocols and connecting interfaces for connecting each external peripheral device. Interface port 134 can comprise but is not limited to: microphone 401 interface, speaker 402 interface, video input 403 interface, video output 404 interface, keyboard and mouse (such as PS2 or serial port) 405 interface, human friendly interface 406 (such as flight joystick), telephone line connecting interface 407 (such as RJ-11), card reader 408 interface for inserting memory cards, 10/100 Ethernet 409 interface, CD/DVD ROM drive (IDE) 410 interface, printer (LTP1) 411 interface, IEEE 1394 412 interface, and USB 415 interface for connecting additional USB peripheral devices.
A power controller 14 provides power to each module in base station 10. In the preferred embodiment, power controller 14 can further comprise: an alternating current/direct current converter for converting general alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) power needed by base station 10, and a rectification unit connected to the AC/DC converter, preventing base station 10 from being damaged by unstable power. Power controller 14 can be an external module or built into base station 10 to provide needed power.
A functional keypad 15 is disposed on the periphery of base station 10 and further comprises: a fast setup key connected to data processing module 12 for controlling the frequency setup of base station 10, and a broadcast function key set connected to data processing module 12 which can be operated from base station 10 to activate multimedia files or to operate functions of peripheral devices, such as forward or backward whilst playing movies or instigate transmission of data from memory cards (not shown) plugged into card reader 408 or other peripheral devices attached to base station 10.
Now referring to
The UWB transceiver module 21 further comprises: an antenna 211, a UWB front-end 212, and a UWB controller 213. Antenna 211 can be extended from transceiver 20 for strengthening USB signals. UWB front-end 212 is connected to antenna 211 for reducing noise or strengthening antenna 211 signals for transmitting or receiving. UWB controller 213 is connected to the UWB front-end unit 212 and USB controller 22 for modulating USB data to be transmitted to UWB signals or modulating the received UWB signals to USB data.
USB controlling module 22 further comprises: a USB interface 221 disposed at one side of the transceiver 20 for connecting an interface of host 30, and a USB signal adaptor 222 connected to USB interface unit 221 and UWB controlling unit 213 of UWB transceiver module 21 for connecting to the host 30 by the USB connecting interface and transmitting data. Power supply unit 23 is connected to USB interface unit 221 for receiving power supplied by the host 30 through the USB interface.
The following illustrates how to play video/audio files to video output 404 in host 30:
Step 1: the video/audio data of host 30 is first transmitted to ultra wideband wireless transceiver 20 through the USB interface, and then is transmitted to base station 10 using wireless UWB signals by the transceiver 20.
Step 2: UWB module 11 receives the UWB signal through the base station 10, and data processing unit 12 determines which interface port 134 is needed by the output device.
Step 3: bridge module 13 converts the UWB signals to the signals (such as video and audio signals) matching the multimedia protocol and outputs to the corresponding interface port 134. Meanwhile, it is determined whether the multimedia code format needs decoder 133 to speed up operation.
Step 4: finally, electrical signals, which are converted to the corresponding multimedia protocol, are sent to external peripheral devices (such as television screen and sound system) for playing video/audio through video output 404 and speaker 402 of interface port 134.
From the above description, not only can the multifunctional wireless UWB transmission system of the present invention connect to a plurality of peripheral devices using various connections interfaces and protocols across a wireless transmission, an object of host 30 is to have fewer interface ports and controllers to reduce the size of host 30 and also base station 10 to further connect many peripheral devices using various interfaces and protocols such that functionality is substantially improved. In addition, since there are no physical wires between base station 10 and host 30, placement of peripheral devices are not so restricted. Therefore, cables surrounding host 30 are removed which substantially improves the shortcomings of the prior art.
While the invention has been described by way of examples and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures. Accordingly, that above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.
